CPU Comparison

The Intel Pentium 6805 defeats the Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 in every single benchmark recorded, despite the Xeon having triple the core count and a higher base clock. The Pentium 6805 wins all five head-to-head tests, with a consistent performance margin of roughly 15-16% across both single-core and multi-core workloads. This is a decisive, if narrow, victory for the newer mobile processor, which was released six years after the server-oriented Xeon.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Pentium 6805's clean sweep is the headline result. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Pentium scores 383 against the Xeon's 323, a 15.7% advantage. That gap remains remarkably stable across all other tests. In Cinebench R20, the Pentium leads by 15.7% in multi-core (1596 vs 1346) and by 16% in single-core (225 vs 189). The pattern repeats in Cinebench R23, where the Pentium is 15.6% ahead in multi-core (3801 vs 3207) and 15.7% ahead in single-core (536 vs 452).

What makes this sweep notable is the nature of the two chips. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 is a 6-core, 6-thread Haswell-EP part with a 1.60 GHz base clock and no boost clock. The Pentium 6805 is a 2-core, 4-thread Ice Lake-Y chip with a 1.10 GHz base clock but a 3.00 GHz boost clock. The Pentium's boost clock is clearly the decisive factor: it allows a dual-core design to outpace a hexa-core server chip in multi-threaded rendering tasks. The Xeon's raw core advantage cannot compensate for its inability to dynamically raise its clock speed.

The consistency of the delta, hovering between 15.6% and 16%, suggests this is not a workload-specific quirk but a fundamental performance ceiling difference. The Xeon's single-core scores are particularly telling: in Cinebench R23 single-core, the Xeon scores 452 while the Pentium hits 536, a 15.7% gap that mirrors the multi-core results. The Xeon's older Haswell architecture, running at a fixed 1.60 GHz, simply cannot match the Pentium's modern Sunny Cove cores when they boost to 3.00 GHz.

When placed against broader context, both processors sit at the 31st percentile of all CPUs, with nearly identical average benchmark scores, 1103 for the Xeon and 1099 for the Pentium. The Xeon's nearest rivals include the Intel Pentium Gold G6605 (delta 0%) and the AMD PRO A12-9800 (delta -0.1%). The Pentium's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-3450S (delta 0%) and the Intel Xeon E5-1603 v3 (delta 0.1%). These figures confirm that while the Pentium wins this matchup, both are entry-level performers by modern standards.

Architecture Differences

The two chips represent fundamentally different design philosophies separated by six years of Intel's process evolution. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 is built on Intel's 22 nm process with a die size of 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors. It uses the Haswell-EP architecture, the server variant of Haswell, and fits into the Intel Socket 2011-3. The Pentium 6805, by contrast, uses the 10 nm Ice Lake architecture with a die size of 123 mm², a dramatic shrink that also reflects its much smaller transistor count. It uses the Sunny Cove microarchitecture and is soldered to the Intel BGA 1526 socket.

Cache layouts highlight the divergent targets. The Xeon offers 15 MB of shared L3 cache, more than three times the Pentium's 4 MB. However, per-core L1 cache favors the Pentium: 80 KB per core versus the Xeon's 64 KB per core. Both share 256 KB of L2 per core. The Xeon's larger L3 is typical of server parts designed to feed many cores, while the Pentium's smaller cache is adequate for its dual-core config.

Memory support reveals another key split. Both support DDR4, but the Xeon runs quad-channel memory with a theoretical bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, while the Pentium runs dual-channel with the same 51.2 GB/s bandwidth figure. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, making it suitable for error-sensitive server workloads; the Pentium does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only), while the Pentium offers Gen 3 without a specified lane count. The Pentium includes integrated graphics, UHD Graphics with 32 execution units, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all.

Power and thermal envelopes are starkly different. The Xeon has a TDP of 85 watts, reflecting its server-grade power delivery for six cores. The Pentium is rated at just 15 watts, a six-fold reduction that makes it suitable for fanless or passively cooled mobile designs. The Xeon's launch MSRP was $213, while the Pentium's was $161.

Where Each One Wins

The Pentium 6805 wins everywhere that raw benchmark scores matter. It is faster in single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests, meaning it will deliver better responsiveness in everyday tasks like web browsing, office applications, and light photo editing. Its boost clock of 3.00 GHz ensures that even single-threaded workloads run at near-modern desktop speeds. The integrated UHD Graphics further extends its utility to basic display output and hardware-accelerated video playback, areas where the Xeon cannot operate without a discrete GPU.

The Xeon E5-2603 v3's wins are structural rather than performance-based. It supports ECC memory, which the Pentium lacks, making it the only choice for systems requiring error correction in RAM. Its quad-channel memory controller, while not yielding higher bandwidth in this comparison, offers more memory channels for server configurations. The 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes provide substantial expansion capability for multiple GPUs, NVMe drives, or network cards, far beyond what the Pentium's unspecified PCIe configuration can offer. With a TDP of 85 watts, the Xeon is designed for sustained all-core loads in a workstation chassis, not the bursty, power-constrained usage of a mobile chip.

The Xeon's 15 MB of L3 cache is another structural advantage. For workloads that repeatedly access a large working set, such as database serving or virtualization, the larger cache can reduce memory latency. However, the benchmark data shows that this advantage does not translate into Cinebench wins, where the Pentium's higher clocks overcome the cache deficit.

The Verdict

Choose the Intel Pentium 6805 if you want the faster processor in this pairing. The data is unambiguous: it wins every benchmark by roughly 16%. It is the better chip for single-threaded performance, multi-threaded rendering, and any workload that benefits from modern architecture and high boost clocks. Its 15-watt TDP and integrated graphics make it a practical choice for compact or mobile systems where power draw and space are constraints.

Choose the Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 if you need ECC memory support, quad-channel memory, or 40 PCIe lanes. These features are absent from the Pentium and cannot be added via software or firmware. The Xeon's six cores and 15 MB of cache provide a foundation for server workloads that require memory integrity and expandability over raw core speed. For a workstation that must run error-corrected memory or drive multiple expansion cards, the Xeon is the only viable option in this comparison, even though it loses every speed test.

For general-purpose computing, the Pentium 6805 is the clear winner. Its performance lead is consistent and significant, and its lower power draw and integrated graphics make it a more versatile part. The Xeon remains relevant only in niche server scenarios where its platform features, ECC, quad-channel RAM, PCIe lanes, outweigh its slower execution.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 has 6 cores and 6 threads. The Intel Pentium 6805 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Does the Pentium 6805 ever lose to the Xeon in Cinebench tests?

A: No. The Pentium 6805 wins all five recorded head-to-head benchmarks, with deltas ranging from -15.6% to -16% in its favor.

Q: What is the performance gap in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Pentium 6805 scores 3801 while the Xeon E5-2603 v3 scores 3207, giving the Pentium a 15.6% lead.

Q: Does the Xeon support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon E5-2603 v3 supports ECC memory. The Pentium 6805 does not.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Pentium 6805, which includes UHD Graphics with 32 execution units. The Xeon E5-2603 v3 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Xeon E5-2603 v3 has an average benchmark score of 1103, and the Pentium 6805 has an average of 1099. Both sit at the 31st percentile of all CPUs.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 | Intel Pentium 6805 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 2 |

| Threads | 6 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 1600.00 MHz | 1100.00 MHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.00 GHz |

| TDP | 85 W | 15 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | Intel BGA 1526 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Ice Lake |

| Codename | Haswell-EP | Ice Lake-Y |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 10 nm |

| Die Size | 356 mm² | 123 mm² |

| Transistors | 2,600 million | Not specified |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 15 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics (32EU) |

| Market Segment | Server/Workstation | Mobile |

| Launch MSRP | $213 | $161 |

| Release Date | 2014-09-07 | 2020-09-30 |